City Girl?

“Uh, you aren’t a country girl….you are from Chicago, Krista!” my husband exclaimed as we were driving through Ohio to a friend’s wedding this summer as I was talking about the rural country side as if it was a long lost relative.  Watching me drive, asking me about my commute, or looking at my calendar it may be clear that I am a city girl to my city husband or to others.  However, a part of recognizing the city girl is also recognizing where I come from and who I am, a white eldest girl from an overgrown Christmas tree farm.
I was reminded of this conversation and this fact recently when I asked three friends to come talk to a group of students about living cross culturally.  They spoke of  the balance between letting a new culture shape who you are becoming but also knowing who you are.  My experience is the more I recognize who I am and what is shaping me the more I am able to embrace about other cultures. 
My prayer is that those serving in the Dwell and YAV programs find this balance while living in communities across this country and the world this year.
-Krista

Local Board Meeting this Wednesday

There aren't many meetings that many folks look forward to. But the Chicago Board of Directors is a meeting of creative minds and willing hands.
For many years, Brenda Matthews has given heart and soul to our board. Words can't express our gratitude but we can say Thank you. Thank you Brenda for your years of service to this community and to guiding and inspiring us.

Dwell in Chicago

In the last week or so, I have gotten to experience Chicago anew. When seeing the city through 6 new-to-Chicago pairs of eyes it is a great joy to relearn my city. This week as Katie, Stephanie, Mara, Tad, Nathaniel, and Brian started their placements and settle into a routine of their life here in Chicago, my prayer is that they continue to see and engage Chicago in new ways.

The Journey ends, begins, ends, begins

It seems only yesterday we were posting information about our Radical Journey participants coming to Chicago for their re-entry and transition reflection retreat.  This week we're orienting a new group of participants. These 18 young adults will embark upon journeys to three international locations. We begin in Chicago as a lab for exploration, development, team building and plenty of self discovery.
Today Krista had the participants take Psalms 23 on the EL. They were instructed to to get to three very different locations throughout the city to read, listen and reflect on the Psalm in the various surroundings. It was a fantastic day.
Having these special times with the Radical Journey participants intermixed with the schedule of our summer Discover weeks brings a long view to the mission before us. The city allows such a brief stay as a weekend or a day to transform a life. The city can be the laboratory for a 3 week training that will shape a year or a life of experience ahead. The city can be the dwelling of many a traveler for a year or more as young adults come for a year in service, or as a college student for their 4 years or as a new family to put down their roots here, or for the many Chicagoans that make this city their home place.
God thank you for your presence here in Chicago and it's many entry points, lessons, trains, and sounds of your love.

Radical Journey Re-Entry

DOOR Chicago closely partners with Radical Journey. It is program for young adults to serve internationally supporting long term mission workers and bring that experience intentionally home to their home congregations. Chicago is possibly the perfect place to prepare in orientation to a year serving internationally and to transition back home once the assignment is complete.
We are thrilled to see the 2009-2010 teams back in Chicago again. We've been sharing, listening, worshiping all complete with both laughter and tears. 
We give thanks to the God of the entire world for the work done in each life and every life touched over the year.

Great Open House

I am a detail person primarily.  Yes, the big picture is all well and good but in the end, my to-do list gets filled with the details of the big picture.  That is why I am thankful for events like this past weekend's DOOR Chicago's Open House.  The board, Brian Sales, and I were able to combine the little details of each program, the history of our host church, and our community partnerships and show the big picture that is DOOR.  Many of the friends of DOOR Chicago know one or maybe two pieces of the program, but the Open House gave us the forum to share with 30 or so folks about all the pieces.  Thanks to all that came, and all who helped pull off the event!
- Krista

Three Weeks into Summer Already

Tonight we start our third week of hosting summer groups.  The staff have been together for four weeks now including training/ orientation week. We are getting a good feel of things and bonding well as a group. The staff have done and learned so much already. I am thrilled to watched their growth as leaders and individuals.
Tonight we are looking forward to the arrival of 3 great groups;  
Peace UCC, Duluth, MN
Aldersgate UMC, Augusta GA
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Charlotte NC
Three senior high youth groups from different small cities, states and denominations. One of the best thing about these weeks is watching how much we have in common as the body of Christ.
May each participant see the things they have in common with their brothers and sisters in each group but throughout the city of Chicago.